Portraits of hostages. Photo: Jack Guez / AFP
Negotiations on a hostage release and ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian side are 90% complete, a Palestinian official involved in the talks told the BBC. However, he said, several important issues remain unresolved.
Among the key obstacles, the official named the presence of the Israeli military in the Philadelphia corridor, a strategic area in southern Gaza adjacent to the border with Egypt.
The main disagreements between the parties
Last week, Hamas sources reported that Israeli demands, including the provision of a “complete list of names of all living and dead hostages” and the inclusion of Israeli prisoners of war in the “humanitarian phase” of the exchange, remain the main obstacles to reaching an agreement.
The BBC also reports that the agreement may include a buffer zone on the border between Israel and Gaza. In this zone, Israel is likely to maintain its presence.
Last week, the Israeli Hostages Office at the Prime Minister’s Office updated the families of the detainees, emphasising: “While conditions have improved, challenges remain; we are working and hope for a breakthrough.”
Warning about premature predictions
Sources familiar with the negotiations told The Jerusalem Post that significant differences remain. They urged not to pin hopes on a quick agreement.
In particular, according to one of the sources, Hamas has not yet provided a list with the names of the hostages it plans to release, nor has it provided a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants to receive in exchange.
Despite the progress, the deal remains complex, and neither side is ready to give up key positions.
